Relationship between the aortic valve calcification and gradient with carotid stenosis severity and plaque’s morphology in patients with ischemic stroke

The relationship between aortic valve calcification (AVC) and aortic valve outflow gradients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS) has been discussed and debated. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between AVC and CAS with the presence and severity of CAS. In this cross-sectional study, we collected carotid artery (CA) Doppler ultrasonography and echocardiography results from 150 patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke. The case group consisted of 75 patients with an atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery with >50% stenosis. Seventy-five patients without atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery were included in the control group. AVC and AV peak gradients were significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group (p=0.0001, p=0.015) respectively. In the case group, there was no significant association between AVC and AV peak gradient with the severity of CAS and between AVC and carotid plaque morphology (p=0.88, p=0.14, p=0.089) respectively.  The two groups had no significant difference in the rate of aortic regurgitation (AR) (P=0.57). Aortic valve calcification and aortic valve gradients are significantly related to CAS. AVC and aortic valve gradients could be considered risk factors for CAS and stroke. Contrary to this, the severity of gradients and AVC was not directly related to the severity of CAS and its morphology.